The Key

CHAPTER 15- THE RESULT

          CHAPTER 15- THE RESULT

We are here inside of our headquarter with Maestro Khien. He already informed us of the news for today. We are waiting for the result of 1st and 2nd Challenge prior to the RSK Festival badge.

“Ilang oras na lang at malalaman na natin ang kinahinatnan ng mga pinaghirapan niyo!” nag-aalalang saad ni Maestro. “Now, you know how this festival works kaya sana maging alerto kayo palagi gaya ng sinasabi ko.”

“Maestro, can we know more about the RSK Festival?” I asked.

“You didn’t do your research isn’t?” he calmly asked. “Okay, since we are still had an hour before the announcement begin I'll give you a glimpse of the history."

“Why do we celebrate this kind of bloody festival?” walang-tonong tanong ni Giero.

“Ready Set Kill Festival or also known as ‘RSK FESTIVAL’ celebrated every 1st of November. It is to commemorate our brave Headmasters and Headmistresses who fought for a bloody battle years ago. However, it became more bloody when the Headmaster’s child Galaxy Mhaffon was abducted on 23rd of December 2000,” he explained.

“Why did the Headmaster wants to have a more bloody battle than a usual festival we had years ago?” I hesitantly asked.

“It is because the Headmaster finds a blood on Galaxy’s crib,” he answered.

In the battle, every zone has two representatives to be sent during the big day. They are the brave players who won the selection process. But, we break the rule. In fact, Giero was a substitute for Heda who unfortunately lost her life.

“Hindi pa natin alam kung ano ang magiging set-up ng festival ngayon. Kaya mas mabuting handa tayo sa kung ano man ang mangyari,” paliwanag nito.

“Maestro? Paano po kayo nanalo sa annual festival? Kasi po nabasa kong wala pa rin nananalo sa ating zone?" I hesitantly asked.

“The Headmaster saved me from my near death after I saved his child Mars Mhaffon. He was accidentally entered the arena. On that day, muntikan na siyang matamaan ng kidlat ng kalaban ko mula sa Zone 7. Iniligtas ko ang anak nila kaya pinaalis ako sa battle field hanggang sa tinalagang Maestro ng Zone 3. However, Mars was killed by his father when he was lost in the final battle with Ury Iversonn of Zone 8,’ he sadly explained.

The atmosphere became heavier. Maestro’s tone became more serious.

Hindi na ako nag atubiling magtanong pa. Hinayaan ko na lamang siyang ipaliwanag ang lahat.

Ilang oras din ang naging paliwanag niya ng lahat.

“Maestro Khien, pinapatawag po kayo ng ating mahal na Headmaster,” singit ng isang lalaking kakapasok lamang sa silid.

“Susunod ako, salamat!” tugon niya rito at agad namang isinara ng lalaki ang pinto. “I want you to stay here and wait for the result, is that clear?”

“Yes!” Giero and I seconded.

So, hindi RSK Festival ang tawag noon sa naging laro kung hindi RGTK Festival or Ready Get The Key Festival wherein the players will find the missing key.

It is a friendly battle.

Until, Headmaster Dyoscoro’s father named it Ready Set Show Festival. Ang laro noon ay pagpapamalas ng lakas ng bawat zone. Ang tinanghal na nanalo ay makakapagkamit ng peace. However, it last for one year until it was stopped.

Ipinatigil ito ng dating Headmaster dahil hindi iyon ang magiging sukatan ng lakas. It last for five years and freedom was guaranteed to everyone. Malaya ang kalakalan at pamumuhay ng tao sa panahon ng dating Headmaster.

“Ang lakas ng isang tao ay hindi nasusukat sa kaniyang tapang at kakayahan kung hindi sa pagpapamalas ng kaniyang puso at kabusilakan ng katauhan,” iyon ang linyang nabasa ko sa libro ng Mhaffon City na sinabi ng dating Headmaster.

Iyon ang dahilan kung bakit ipinatigil ang battle of strength.

Ngunit, ibinalik ito at pinangngalanan na RSK Festival pagkatapos maluklok ang bagong Headmaster na ngayon ay si Headmaster Dyoscoro Mhaffon.

It was all started way back 2014. It is for commemoration to his lost child Galaxy. Hanggang ngayon ay ganoon pa rin ang nangyayari at ito na ang magaganap sa mga susunod na araw.

Life over Death.

Kung sino man ang may lakas na loob na ipatigil ito tiyak na kamatayan ang kabayaran.

Lahat ng naninirahan sa city ay hawak nila sa leeg kaya wala kung sino man ang matapang na sumalungat sa patakaran.

In the last 20 years, under the supervision of late Headmaster Caesar it is a friendly battle. Those who killed in the arena are being healed. They are not totally killed.

The winner will guarantee everything the player wants for his zone.

Only one player will win the said battle.

“Okay! Magsisimula na ang announcement,” bungad sa amin ni Maetro na kapapasok lang sa pinto.

Umupo na ako ng maayos gayundin si Giero na ngayon ay nakahalukipkip. Malalaman na namin ang partial score na nakuha namin.

“Hush Kurush Players!” Fore Hajjis said.

He is the host of the annual festival.

He is a famous host in the entire city.

He looks like in the mid-20s yet his age is 45.

Chinito, pataas ang buhok, at Moreno. Maybe, some of his generation had a secret crush on him.

I laughed because of what I think.

“Ngayon, malalaman niyo ang naging final score ng ating 5 royals na sumubaybay sa inyong ensayo. Maaari pa rin itong mabago bukas pagkatapos ng interview on the Big Day!” masayang anunsiyo niya.

Kinakahaban na ako.

I hope I can get the badge.

“Let’s start from the 12th placer,” he started.

Ayon kay Maestro kanina, naitala na ang puntos na nakuha namin sa una at ikalawang pagsubok. The scores of each royal will be divided into 5. And, the total score in each game will be divided into 2.

16 points will be given sa pinakamagaling sa bawat challenge habang 1 point ang pinakamababa. Only one player can gain the point.

16 ang manlalaro kaya magiging ranking ang points ng mga royals.

Ngunit, walang ganito na magaganap during the battle, it is a good news for us.

The scores from the first and second challenge flashed on the flat screen television here inside the room. The pictures of each player were flashed along with their scores and rank.

Inaamin ko, kinakabahan pa rin ako!

Giero was smiling like he knows the result. Wala man lang siyang kaba sa magiging resulta.

I focused my attention in the screen as it flashed Grey’s name. Grey was ranked 9th along with the representative of Zone 5, Lob.

“Good job, Grey!” I said with pride.

However, she can’t have the badge but there is still one chance for her to step forward. I knew she can slay the interview tomorrow.

As the result was revealed, my heart can’t stop beating in unusual beat. It seems that it wants to explode for a minute.

“WOW!” Maestro Khien exclaimed. “Congratulations, Rumi!”

He clapped in nicest way.

I can’t expect that I was ranked 3rd from other. I know the result is still partial.

“Congrats, Rumi!” Giero said.

“Likewise! Ikaw nga ‘tong second eh!” nakangiting saad ko.

“Cheers to us!” Maestro said happily.

Syempre, isang karangalan din iyon para sa kanila. Mapapanindigan ni Maestro ang agreement nila ng Head Royal nang muntikan na kaming mamatay.

“Thank you, Maestro,” I said with heart-pounding.

“For you, Rumi! I know you both can win this selection!”

“Diba po isa lang ang mananalo sa battle? But, it is possible still to win if we both are alive, isn't it? That's what I read in the book,” I explained confusedly.

“Hindi pa natin alam ang magaganap sa ngayon. Mga-abang na lang tayo. For now, let’s celebrate for your greatest achievements. Cheers to us!” masayang saad nito habang itinaas ang basong may laman ng champagne.

“Zone 3!” Giero shouted.

“Congratulations players! See you on the Big Day!” Fore said. “Have a nice day to all!”

The overall results were flashed on the screen as it was ranked from 1st to 16th placers.

1st URY IVERSONN, Zone 8

2nd GIERO MACZ, Zone 3

3rd RUMI RETODA, Zone 3

4th ELAINE WAT, Zone 8

5th JAXON NATONI, Zone 5

6th SING NAMON, Zone 1

7th VINC DOZ, Zone 1

8th AZI AKIL, Zone 6

9th GREY PAWATEE, Zone 4

10th LOB RAYVAN, Zone 5

11th WHITE PAWATEE, Zone 4

12th QUEN MANOLA, Zone 6

13th MISH SHIFT, Zone 7

14th ASRO CASUSE, Zone 7

15th XIXI SERAF, Zone 2

16th JAD KILOS, Zone 2

“See you tomorrow my lovely and handsome Subtle!” pagpapaalam ni Maestro.

“Thank you, Maestro!” we seconded.

“You’re designer for tomorrow’s event will get here for a moment, wait for her!”

Hindi ko alam ang ibig sabihin ni Maestro ukol doon sa designer. Doon ko naalala na tuwing Big Day din nagaganap ang pasiklaban ng kasuotan ng bawat manlalahok. Susi rin ito para sa magandang impression mula sa mga mayayaman at makapangyarihan.

“Ano kaya ang magaganap sa Big Day Giero?” napatanong ko.

“As usual, grand entrance,” pokus-sagot niya sa akin.

Hindi na ako nagtanong muli at ibinaling na lang ang tingin mula sa labas ng bintana. Nakatayo lang ako rito habang hinihintay ang bilin ni Maestro. Samantala, nakaupo sa sofa si Giero at tila umidlip muna.

Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala sa resulta.

“Get up!”

Bigla na lamang ako napalingon nang marinig ang sumigaw mula sa aking likuran. Ngayon, tanaw ko ang nakatayong dilag sa harap ng pintuan at may hawak na kumikinang na kwaderno.

Matangkad, balingkinitan, at parang ka-edad lang ni Maestro Khien.

Namangha ako sa nasaksihan ng aking mga mata. I was mesmerized with her beauty and posture. She was my inspiration way back on the 31st RSK Festival.

“Ano na? Tutunganga na lang tayo?”

“Kayo po ang magiging designer namin?”

“Yes, Ms. Retoda!” she replied.

"Totoo ba'to?" naguguluhan kong tanong.

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